A male university student in Tainan, identified by his surname Li, has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison following the sexual assault of a former high school junior. The incident occurred after the pair reunited years after graduation, leading to a social outing that ended at Li’s rented accommodation. Despite Li’s claims that the encounter was consensual, the court found his subsequent apology messages to be damning evidence of his guilt.
The court heard that on 31 March 2024, Li invited the victim, referred to as Xiao Mei, to stay overnight at his apartment. While the initial agreement was for Xiao Mei to sleep on the bed and Li on the floor, Li reportedly initiated a non-consensual encounter during the night. The prosecution detailed how Li assaulted the victim twice in quick succession. When Xiao Mei attempted to flee the premises, Li allegedly restrained her by grabbing her from behind and pulling her back to the bed for a third assault before finally allowing her to leave.
During the trial, Li’s defence argued that the interactions were “natural” and claimed that the lack of loud cries for help or physical struggle implied consent. They further questioned why the victim waited nine months to file a formal complaint and why she did not seek immediate help from neighbours. Li even claimed he only approached the bed to “comfort” her because his loud snoring might have disturbed her sleep.
However, the court dismissed these arguments, citing a series of incriminating text messages Li sent to the victim after the incident. In these messages, Li repeatedly apologised, stating, “I am so sorry for making you feel like your body is dirty,” and “I was blinded by lust.” He further admitted, “I thought you liked me; this wasn’t your fault, it was my own overconfidence.” The judge ruled that such “servile and guilt-ridden” apologies would be unnecessary had the act truly been consensual.
In the final judgment, the court emphasised that the legal definition of sexual assault rests on the “violation of will” rather than the level of physical resistance. The judge noted it is entirely common for victims to feel frightened, timid, or concerned for their reputation, which may prevent them from screaming or fighting back. Recognising the severe psychological trauma inflicted on the victim—who refused any settlement or mediation—the court sentenced Li to 40 months’ imprisonment. The case remains open for appeal.
